Chapter 4
'SHADO HQ to Sky 7, Freeman here. Have you got any news Peter?' Alec Freeman was getting concerned at the lack of results. 'We could really do to find that wreckage before it disintegrates. Do you need any underwater support?'
'Colonel, it's rather difficult finding anything here. There's a vicious undersea current just off shore, and we are still trying to work out where the UFO could be. Chances are it has been swept away but with the tide going out it's taking longer to calculate the exact location. It could be that it has been beached further along the coast. The support team will be useful sir, when they arrive.'
'We are just getting the team finalised Peter. A fully equipped search unit with three mobiles and support helicopters. They should be with you in a couple of hours. Just remember that the Commander and Colonel Philips are in that area right now. I hope this isn't an attempt by the aliens to get the two of them.' Freeman closed the connection and turned to the woman standing impatiently at his shoulder. 'Okay Ginny, tell me.'
The attractive, blonde woman smiled at him. She and Alec Freeman had been seeing each other for several months now and so far the relationship was developing into something more than a casual fling. Alec was still wary of commitment though, andVirginiaLakewas determined to make him change his mind. Alec was too unadventurous really when it came to serious relationships.
'Right Colonel. Following last year's activity in the zone I researched the whole area and found some previously unknown data that puts a whole new light on the alien incursions there. Did you know that there are three abandoned strontium mines near the UFO trajectory terminations?'
'Strontium? That's…'
'An alkaline metal. Silvery-grey and forms a radioisotope, strontium-90, which is used in nuclear power sources. The mines were abandoned when other richer sources were found in areas easier to mine. I speculate that the aliens are targeting that particular area in an attempt to get their hands on whatever deposits still remain in the mines. We have found traces of strontium-90 in the wreckage of UFOs that have been recovered which suggest that it is a necessary component of their craft.' She looked at him, waiting for the questions to start.
'So why did we not get this information last year? Why did it take until now to find out about these mines? It would have put a completely different perspective on the investigation last year. I would have put a full scale search into place. As it was, we found absolutely nothing to explain why the UFOs were targeting the area. Damn. Ed won't be happy.' He was angry, but not with her.
'It seems that the geological data that we were given by the military was inaccurate and out-of-date. They obviously didn't think we were serious when we said what we needed. Don't worry….' she told him before he could interrupt her, 'I have written a report for the Commander. I think it would be best to let him deal with the people concerned.'
She grinned at him. Straker in a bad mood was not a pleasant sight, especially if he was dealing with someone's incompetence.
The fact that this incident also involved UFO's, increased the anger factor. Both Colonels knew that some paper-pushing official who had obviously not done his job thoroughly would be out of work very shortly.
And why not? SHADO were dealing with people's lives every day, and Straker and his team demanded the highest commitment from everyone. And officials who did not meet Straker's exceptionally high standards were removed from their posts as soon as possible, whoever they worked for. Ed Straker had friends in high places and was not afraid to use them.
Thinking of the boss made Alec wonder if he should contact Ed to warn him about the possible alien interest in the mines.
No, he decided. They had only just got to the hotel. Let them have at least one peaceful night there before involving them in SHADO affairs. Nothing would happen overnight, Alec was sure of that. He would contact Ed first thing in the morning and bring him up to date on events.
Decision made he went to organise the support team, ensuring that the members were heavily armed and aware of the recent developments.
